At 4:30 AM police conducted a raid intended to seize all guns matching the type of firearm (a Glock handgun) used in a previous shooting incident the police themselves ruled to be self-defense. During this morning's raid two guns were seized from a security officer and one other man - whom the police themselves admit have done nothing wrong.

Upon hearing of the pre-dawn raid in Itamar, Hotovely asked Interior Committee Chairman MK David Azoulay for a special hearing on police conduct in the incident. Azoulay agreed to hold the hearing, but not until next week, when he returns from a visit abroad.

"This is a matter of principle," Hotovely said. "This is not a criminal suspect. Moshe Ronsky has dedicated his life to the settlements as a civilian, and to national security through military service. [The police] should act with discretion when it comes to such person. You cannot treat him like a criminal."

Hotovely added, "Beyond that, this happened in a traumatized community. The conduct of police this morning is an immoral act of the first magnitude."

During her meeting with Minister Aharonovitch, Hotovely intends to emphasize his men must exercise common sense, saying, "the police may not behave in an inhuman fashion."

"Once again settlers have been treated as enemies of the people," Hotovely said. "Because there is one gun they want to check every gun... the presence of one gun [to check] does not make all guns suspect. There are things these communities have to do to protect themselves. If you take a gun to check it you must provide security. He holds that gun legally and with permission from the military. You can not simply take it away."

"There is a systematic treatment of the settler public as second-class citizens by police," Hotovely added. "An attitude that settlers do not have civil liberties and human rights."

Hotovely intends to request that Minister Aharonovitch address next week's special hearing of the Interior committee himself, and respond to questions from MKs. Due to incomplete, conflicting and inaccurate answers given concerning past police actions in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, such as those at Gilad Farm, Hotovely said, "if police do not give clear explanations we will have no choice but to take this to the next level: legislation or court."

Hotovely plans to have a preliminary meeting with Minister Aharonovitch today to examine the facts surrounding the incident prior to next week's hearing.